Molding for laundry tubs



Jan. 23, 1951 G. w. KEATING, JR 2,539,141

MOLDING FOR LAUNDRY TUBS' Filed April 16, 1948 Snventor GEORGE W. Kqr wal/R. /'L .4%"

Gttonleg i of the tubs.

Patented Jan. 23, 1951 MOLDING FOR LAUNDRY TUBS George W. Keating, Jr., Saginaw, Mich., assignor t0 Durand Metal Products Corporation,,Sagi naw, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 16, 1948, Serial No. 21,489

2 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry tubs, and more particularly to laundry tubs constructed with a molding formed from sheet metal and intended for interlocked engagement with those parts of such tubs with which it is to be assembled.

In the construction of sheet metal objects, particularly laundry tubs, it is necessary that the top edges, where they are exposed to the users hands be protected by providing them with a SmOoth rounded contour. Yet it is not practical in the normal manufacture of such sheet metal products to roll all four edges of an item such as a tub to accomplish this purpose. It is, therefore, necessary to provide an edging, or molding, which may be easily and quickly installed on the exposed edge of such an article.

In providing an edging meeting these requirements it is necessary that it be simple and economical to fabricate. It is further necessary that the design of such an edging permit easy and rapid installation and that the attachment of the molding be so arranged that it is thereafter positively held against inadvertant disengagement. In such a design it is also essential that the finished product have a smooth and attractive appearance and that the means of joining the parts be completely or almost completely hidden.

Such articles as laundry tubs, from whatever material they are fabricated, must be capable of sustaining a relatively heavy load such as is imposed by the water and articles placed in them. Hence, where sheet metal is used to fabricate the tubs it becomes essential to provide a means of supporting the upper rims of these tubs to prevent deflection and ultimate collapse. For purposes of economical manufacture, it is desirable that the supporting member be made from the same type of material as the tubs.

My invention combines not only the function of an edging but also that of a supporting beam providing resistance against downward deflection I have accomplished this by use of a beam having a simple rolled shape of such a design that it will support one or more tubs. By combining both the support and the decorative trim in a single, simply fabricated part, my invention makes possible a laundry tub which is both lighter and more economical than any heretofore known.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of my invention to provide a molding rail along the upper edge of a side panel of a sheet metal tub which will serve both to support the tub and provide it with a smooth and attractive finish.

A further object-of my invention is to provide a decorative molding for a laundry tub having a smooth exterior surface and a design giving it the deflection resisting characteristics of a horizontal beam.

A still further object of my invention is to.

\ an assembly in which all of the engaging members are hidden.

Other objects and purpose of my invention will be apparent to those acquainted with this art upon reading the following specification and examining the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a tub having my molding rail, installed thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a tub having my molding rail installed thereon.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of my molding rail mounted tothe rim of the tub taken along the plane III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the end of one of my molding rails at the corner of the tub with the supporting leg removed.

In accomplishing the objects and purposes ofv my invention, I have provided a rim at the upper edge of the tub formed into a V having its apex spaced outwardly from the wall of the tub and a tubular rail open along one side receiving the V -shaped rim into its interior area such that the tub and the rail cannot be disengaged except by sliding the rail ofi the tub in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the molding rail.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a laundry tub including a pair of compartments 2 and abutting walls 3. The compartments 2 are formed from any suitable light gauge sheet metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. The non-abutting walls of the compartments 2 are provided with a substantially horizontally outwardly extending flange or clip 5 shaped in the form of a V having its apex 6 spaced outwardly from the wall of the tub and length parallel to its longitudinal axis.

The rail 9 is tubular in form and is provided with a slot shaped opening extending its entire Adjacent the opening ID the walls H of the rail '9 are turned inwardly to form a pair of substantially horizontally extending fianges'fZ flanking and defining the width of the opening Ill throughout its length.

The width of the flanges I2 may vary-from 'a small to a substantial portion of the diameter of the rail 9 without affecting the operationof my rail assembly. The length of the leg I of the clip is equal to the exterior diameter of the rail 9 less the thickness of the wall H of the rail. The length of the leg 8 of the clip -5 is equal to the interior diameter of the rail 9. Beforeinstallation of the rail 9 to the compartment walls 4, the flanges i2 are preferably in contact-with each other and are forced apart-a'su-fficient distance to receive the leg 1 of theclip at the time of assembly.

The rail 9 extends unbroken along the entire side of the tub engaging the-walls of both compartments, in the particular form therein illustrated, and terminates at the-corner of thetub as is shown in Figure=4. The clip '5 extends up to but not aroundthe corner of each compartment and the rail is substantially coextensive with the clip. This arrangement permits the rail 9 to be assembled with the 'ciip 5 by Sliding the rail longitudinally into engagementwvith' the clip.

In assembling the rail to the wall of the compartments the flanges l2 of the rail are separated sufficiently to receive the leg F of the clip therebetween and the legB of the clip is'made to fit entirely within the interior of the rail. When so assembled the apexfi of' the clip 5'will contact the interior of the wall ll of the r-ail Sdiametrically opposite the opening [0 and the free end of the leg'8 of the clip will contact the interior surface of the rail 9 at a point close to one of the flanges i2. The exterior surface of the rail 9 will contact the wall dot the compartments proximate to the point wherethe wall 4 and clip 5 join. The bearing of the apex '6 against the interior of the rail "9 together with the bearing of the end of the leg 8 against the interior of the rail '9 substantially opposite the point of contact of the apex and rail prevent movement of the rail relative to the clip 5 except along the rails longitudinal axis. The bearing of the rail against the wall 4 of the compartments aids in preventing rotation of the rail about its longitudinal axis. After this assembly has been accomplished the legs I3 are installed providing both support for each of the rails terminating at that particular corner and a cover for the gap existing between ends of the two rails -meeting at each corner.

-A detailed description of the legs and lower tension members i4 is omitted inasmuch as they constitute no part of this invention and they are fully described in my copending application entitled, Corner and Leg Mounting Construction.

Longitudinal disengagement of the rail and rim are prevented by the legs l3.

The shape of the rail 9 is such as to give it a high resistance to bending loads in any direction thereby providing a supporting beam for one or more compartments which may comprise the tub. The diameter of the rail 9 may be increased or decreased without necessarily affecting the size of the 'clip 5 in accordance with the degree of resistance to bending desired in a particular installation.

Besides providing a simple method of both improving the appearance of the tub and also providing structural support, the design is such that the particular-tub unit may be quickly disassembled and packed away for transportation or storage by merely removing the legs 13 and sliding off the rails 9. Where more than one compartment is used, as is shown in Figure l, the removal of the rails 9 automatically operates to disassemble one compartment from the other since no other joining or supporting means contacting the individual compartments is necessary.

It will be seen that certain variations may be made in my particular structure as herein' disclosed; however, suchchanges are merely matters of detail and will not afiect the operation 01 my invention as herein disclosed, unless fundamentally changing the principle of my invention, such variations will'all be within the scope of my hereinafter appended claims excepting as said claims may have by their own terms expressly provided otherwise.

I claim:

1. In a rimfor an open rectangular container having a sidewall, the combination comprising: a substantially cylindrical, hollow rail having a lengthwise slot and apair of substantialy parallel and closely spaced lips integral with the opposing edges of said slot and extending inwardly of said rail; and a flange at the upper edge of said sidewall having a fiat mounting portion integral with said sidewall and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and a fiat foided portion integral with the extended edge of, and of less width than, said mounting portion and disposed at an acute angle thereto, the mounting portion being snugly engaged between said lips and completely disposed within said rail, and said folded portion being'remote from said sidewall and thefree edge thereof and the apex of the fold engaging the interior of said rail along lines spaced substantially circumferentially of said rail, whereby said rail is secured to said sidewall and disposed entirely on one side thereof.

2. In a rim for a pair of rectangular twin tubs having a substantially vertical sidewall and for securing one tub with respect to theother, the combination comprising: a substantially cylindrical, hollow rail having a longitudinal slot therein and a pair of substantially parallel lips integral with the opposing edges of said slot and extending inwardly of said rail, said lips being normally spaced from each other a distance slightly less than the thickness of said sidewall; and an outwardly extending flange at the upper edge of said sidewall having a flat mounting portion integral with and extending substantially perpendicularly from said sidewall, and a folded portion integral with the extended edge of, and of less width than, said mounting portion and disposed at an acute angle thereto, said mounting portion being snugly engaged between said lips and completely disposed within said rail, and said 5 folded portion being remote from said sidewall and the free edge thereof and the apex of the fold engaging the interior of said rail along two lines spaced substantially circumferentially of said rail, whereby said rail is secured to said sidewall and 5 disposed entirely on the outside thereof.

GEORGE W. KEA'IING, JR.

REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the 19 Nu ber file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Morton Oct. 1, 1889 Eaton Sept. 7, 1909 Rideout Nov. 11, 1941 Schultes Jan. 6, 1942 Wilson Feb. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1873 

